Comparing a leading publishing company with a smaller publishing company and researching their publications.

1. Publishing
companies
By Christina Smith

2. TimeInc.
UK

3. Who are they? TimeInc.UK are a leading publishing
company, who own and manage many of the most
popular magazines in the UK. They have a monthly
global print audience of over 120 million and they
publish magazines aimed at numerous different
interests, from TV and music, to fashion and sport.
What is their company history? In 1963, three of the
UK’s top magazine publishers - George Newnes,
Odhams Press and Fleetway Publications - joined
together, along side the Mirror Group, to form the
‘International Publishing Corporation’ (IPC). IPC
became the publisher of many of the UK’s popular
magazines. However, in 2001, the company was
acquired by Time Warner and soon became known
as TimeInc.Uk in 2014.
What publications does the company manage?
Currently, TimeInc.UK manages a variety of
magazines including
NME, Look, What’s on TV, InStyle, TV and Satellite,
Now, Marie Claire UK and other leading magazine
titles.
TimeInc.UK

4. NME
NME magazine, which is managed by
TimeIncUk, is typically aimed at over 18 year
olds, who have a passion for rock/indie
music. Created in 1952, NME has featured
numerous legendary rock stars, resulting in
it’s popularity as a magazine.
This particular issue is also a ‘festival special’. Festivals generally appeal to
young adults, between 18-35, as they enjoy the adrenaline and social
aspects that festivals bring, as well as the music. It also includes a
competition - ‘Win VIP tickets to T in The Park’- which reaffirms the idea
that it is aimed at a young adult audience, as they typically earn less
money and may have more time to attend the festival.
On this particular edition of NME magazine,
Van McCann - of indie rock band Catfish And
The Bottlemen – appears almost intimidating
on the front cover, which emphasises the
magazine’s rock/indie genre. This is also seen
on the cover with the joke “step aside Liam”,
referring to Liam Gallagher of 1990s rock
band Oasis. However, the colours used on this
particular front cover are mainly light blue
and yellow, which suggests that the magazine
is aimed at young adults and is not centred
around the typical powerful/dark vibe given
by heavy rock music, but a more relaxed vibe
which is given by indie music.

5. LOOK
Look magazine, managed by TimeIncUK, was first
published in 1937, is typically aimed at women
between the ages of 20 – 40, who have an interest
in fashion and current news surrounding
celebrities, who are generally female themselves.
There is also a subtitle on the magazine, which states the ‘New
accessory rules’, in which new trends are displayed. This indicates that
the magazine could be aimed at a younger female audience, who are
presumably on a low budget, as the accessories are of a cheaper,
‘bargain’ price.
On this particular edition, popular model
Cara Delevingne is pictured on the front
next to an interview with her in which she
‘opens up’ about her personal life. This
suggests the audience is younger women
as Cara herself is 24, so would be seen as
more appealing to women who are of a
similar age. The tagline ‘”I have days when
I wake up in tears” could suggest that he
magazine is personal and inviting, but also
with a large essence of gossip. The target
age of this magazine is also emphasised by
the use of colours, light blue and bright
pink, which are stereotypically preferred
by young women.

6. Future

7. Who are they? Future are an international publishing
corporation, with around 500 people currently working
in their offices in the UK, USA and Australia.
What is the company history? The company, which was
originally curated in 1985, began with a single magazine
and has now expanded this number to over 200 prints,
apps, websites and events.
What publications does the company manage? Future
currently manages many of the UK’s magazines,
including Total Film, Guitarist, Music Radar, Rhythm and
Digital Camera.
Future

8. Rhythm
Rhythm, managed by Future publishing,
magazine appears to be aimed at an
older generation of rock music
enthusiasts.
This particular issue is a “Brit pack” and
features drummers from three of the UK’s
most popular rock bands – Arctic
Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs, and Snow Patrol.
The background of the magazine, seen
behind the drummers, is the Union Jack,
which emphasises that this issue is
centred around Brit rock.
The target audience, in terms of age group originally appears to be
aimed at an older audience, seen not only by the leading bands, but
by the free CD, which aren’t typically bought by younger audiences
anymore. However, the magazine also features a prize of a scholarship
to a ‘Drumtech’, a music school, which could suggest that it is aimed
at a younger audience who are between 16-20, and looking for
education.

9. TotalFilm
TotalFilm, owned by Future
publishing, is a magazine aimed at
young people who have a passion for
films and entertainment.
The magazine also features a section asking whether their audience
is “in our social networks”, which again suggests that the publishers
target audience is young people as they are typically the main users
of social networking sites.
This particular issue is centred around the
Harry Potter franchise, which could
suggest the audience is primarily of a
young age group, who have an interest in
action/adventure films. Dark and
powerful colours such as red and black
have been used on this front cover to
emphasise the action/adventure genre of
the film, as well as the lightning in the
background. This could also suggest that
the magazine’s target audience is over
fifteens as it isn’t bright and appealing to
children.